Senses Initiated Lucid Dream Ssild

Originally Posted by Matt1: I was wondering if maybe it would be okay to get out of bed and maybe do the cycles in a comfy chair or seat you can relax fully in, then go straight back to the bed and fall asleep while doing the cycles again? This seems to me like a good way to make sure all the cycles, including the long ones, get done, before falling asleep. What do you think? -------- Very interesting... no one hasn't tried that yet.

Alright, I'm going to try that a little and if it's promising, keep it up. It seems in my experience and what I've seen in a few others' accounts that the effects of SSILD on dream vividness and lucidity are greater the more of the cycles you complete, so I just need to not fall asleep too soon. I'll post about it in the 30 days test thread.

You know, when you get those random thoughts during the cycles sometimes, is it possible to get those random thoughts in FA in the same manner as when awake? I had assumed that such thoughts would be vivid and perceptible when asleep or dreaming, not just thoughts, if that makes any sense, but I could be wrong. Also I've assumed I did not go directly into FA because I could feel my whole body exactly the same as when awake. Should I still do a reality check (and possibly cancel out some of the good effects of SSILD by moving, if that is possible)?

Originally Posted by Matt1: You know, when you get those random thoughts during the cycles sometimes, is it possible to get those random thoughts in FA in the same manner as when awake? I had assumed that such thoughts would be vivid and perceptible when asleep or dreaming, not just thoughts, if that makes any sense, but I could be wrong. Also I've assumed I did not go directly into FA because I could feel my whole body exactly the same as when awake. Should I still do a reality check (and possibly cancel out some of the good effects of SSILD by moving, if that is possible)? -------- Usually in an FA our thoughts can immediately turn into images like you've said. However, there is something peculiar about some of the FAs generated by SSILD. They can be so realistic that no amount of visualization will work, and if you focus too much on your physical body you WILL wake up seamlessly and move your physical body instead. This type of FAs usually happens when you feel you are waking up frequently. I suggest you read my other post about Focus Point, which might help when encountering this kind of FAs next time.

Originally Posted by bluremi: I've been repeating my same procedure but cannot replicate my previous success. I do the cycles and my mind wanders but I manage to finish, then I go to sleep and wake up a few hours later without remembering any dreams. Any advice? -------- Did you get up and allow yourself to stay awake for a while? Anyway, take a look at this post. I think it might help: http://www.dreamviews.com/attaining-...ml#post1988470

Aside from the times I become lucid, the cycles have an unusual effect on me that I thought I would share. Normally when I sleep or used to sleep without doing any cycles, no matter how long I slept, it felt like time had passed, especially if there had been a vivid or aware dream. If I fell back asleep at, say, 3:00, no matter if I woke up at 3:30, 4:00, 5:00, or later, I would remember trying to fall asleep, that I was asleep for an unknown length of time, I dreamed something or other maybe, and here I am. When I do the cycles, even if rather poorly, not good enough to have a lucid dream, what will happen is I am either doing the cycles or trying to fall asleep afterward for what feels like 5 minutes or less, then suddenly I am fully awake (and not in FA either). I look at my clock fully expecting only 5 minutes to have passed, but it has actually been anywhere from 20 to 90 minutes. Then if I try I can maybe remember a dream from this passed time. --My Personal Theory-- Generally when I do the cycles I figure that if I wake up after this, I will just try them again, which is good. I find though that on days where I expect I have to get up at a certain time (most days), no matter how much later, this problem occurs, of waking up too soon. I think because I expect subconsciously to have to wake up for the day at a certain time, and to have to have more awakenings in between to try the cycles, my brain wakes me up. I also theorize that this expectation causes the cycles to increase awareness, not in the midst of a dream as I want, but to actually wake me up, because that is I what I expect. That the cycles are causing the awakenings I think explains both the timing and the nature of them. Still since it is having an effect on me, I believe the cycles to be an effective method of inducing lucid dreams, not to mention that it also works for many to cause quick, vivid WILDs. Now I just need to get myself to not wake up too much so I can get lucid dreams and not these time warp awakenings. tl;dr Cycles cause me to sleep without feeling any time has passed. The cycles may be waking me up through subconscious expectation to wake up later rather than causing lucidity as desired.

I've been doing SSILD for a while now - not sure, maybe a week and a half? No lucidity for the first few days, then went into a period of terrible recall and being too tired to even think about SSILDing that lasted like a week. That seems to be abating now, and last night I tried SSILD again and got lucid briefly just as I was waking up. Did a few SSILD cycles during a short WBTW (just went to the bathroom - I drank a big cup of water before bed and set my intention to wake after each dream and to realize I'm dreaming). Then I just rolled over and went to sleep and had a few weird dreams, and at the end of one I went lucid briefly. SSILDed again a few times and tried to get back to sleep, think I did fall asleep briefly once and a few times I saw dreams beginning to form but then they'd pop like bubbles.

It has not worked for me after my initial success. I am still experimenting to find out what works. Right now I'm focusing on staying awake during WBTB longer so that I don't drift away in the middle of the cycles. I find myself stopping and starting once they get to the long cycle stage, I think these interruptions are hurting the effectiveness of the technique.

Originally Posted by bluremi: It has not worked for me after my initial success. I am still experimenting to find out what works. Right now I'm focusing on staying awake during WBTB longer so that I don't drift away in the middle of the cycles. I find myself stopping and starting once they get to the long cycle stage, I think these interruptions are hurting the effectiveness of the technique. -------- Staying awake longer will definitely help, but you also need to be more aware of the FAs. Do you find yourself waking up many times after the exercise? If you do, chances are some of those awakenings were FAs.

Originally Posted by VagalTone: Im not sure about this....i have 3 or + awakenings per night, can i repeat SSILD cycles on different awakenings ? -------- Most definitely. And should you find you have even more awakenings after performing SSILD, it is a hint that they may be FAs. If if they are not, performing more cycles during these awakenings will likely result in WILDs.

Hey I've recently started Lucid Dreaming and found that your technique works great! I've had 14 or so Lucids in a around a month. The only problem is that when i started out, i had super vivid and long lucids but recently all of mine are very blurry, and fade out in less than a minute. My dream recall seems to be suffering too. I keep a dream journal and everything and i've tried everything during the dream to try and stabilize it, like spinning, staring at my palms, crawling, telling the dream to be more clear, rubbing my palms etc. but nothing seems to be working. What do you think could be the problem? Thanks in advance!

i have the same problem with stabilization, i think it will just get better with time. after all this is a skill. if you had super vivid and long lucids i can definitely understand that you think there's some problem now. but you are doing the right techniques, ya, and it takes time to have some kind of regularity, as far as i know by the way, 14 lucids in a month is very impressive, im sure this technique is for you ! do you use another technique besides SSILD ?

Originally Posted by Stevano: Hey I've recently started Lucid Dreaming and found that your technique works great! I've had 14 or so Lucids in a around a month. The only problem is that when i started out, i had super vivid and long lucids but recently all of mine are very blurry, and fade out in less than a minute. My dream recall seems to be suffering too. I keep a dream journal and everything and i've tried everything during the dream to try and stabilize it, like spinning, staring at my palms, crawling, telling the dream to be more clear, rubbing my palms etc. but nothing seems to be working. What do you think could be the problem? Thanks in advance! -------- Sounds like you are on the right path. Frequency is up, and you understand the stabilization techniques. Are you doing anything unusual with your sleep schedules? Such as going to bed late? Getting up earlier? Are you well rested and in good physical condition? Are you under stress? These are the questions you should ask yourself as they all may impact your dream recall and vividness of your LDs. Another suggestion is to take a couple days of break. 14 LDs in around a month is quite an achievement already so no need to stretch it. You might also consider taking some supplements. After all, many of which are "brain food", and you don't want to starve your brain!

Thanks for all the responses guys! VagalTone: Nah i just use SSILD + WBTB. I tried MILD and WILD before trying SSILD for a few weeks succeeding in only 1 short WILD. BrandonBoss: Yeah i guess it could be the recall, the thing is that i used to be able to remember around 2 dreams every night, now it seems it's lucky even if i get a couple of fragments. CosmicIron: I'm in pretty good shape, not amazing but fit. I have been getting a lot of tests and homework lately though so stress might be a factor. Question: What stabilization techniques works the best for you? Also what do you do during WBTB, is there certain activities you should avoid like surfing the web etc. ?

Originally Posted by BrandonBoss: Hey! Am I not the only one that thinks that being in good physical shape makes LDing a lot easier? It just seems like most real oneirontauts are in good or great shape. -------- For what it's worth: I'm in lousy physical shape; I always have been. I'm not fat or sickly, mind you, but definitely not ready for 15 rounds. Am I the exception, or could mental good shape trump physical good shape, at least sometimes? I haven't read this thread, but I think it needs to be said that physical condition, and action, ought to be secondary considerations at best in LD'ing... sorry if I contradict!

I suspect people who are in great shape have a sense of being able to control their own destiny - their physical condition is a testament to that. Also many of them are into martial arts, which does wonders to improve self esteem and empowerment. Plus the endorphins etc as a result of exercise.. I don't think it's the physical condition itself that does anything, or very little anyway, but the underlying sense of well-being and self esteem. And you don't have to be in great physical shape to have those things.

^^ Or people in good shape have nothing better to do with their time... or they're driven to beautify/purify their physique for purely narcissistic reasons ... or they just want dates... or... hell, I think you get my point: excellent physical condition does not equal improved mental condition every time, and people in excellent physical condition do not always have that "underlying sense of well-being and self-esteem;" indeed, very often their efforts stem from very opposite underlying senses. There are simply too many variables to make such assumptions, I think. I do agree, though, that physical condition has little to do, proportionally, with LD'ing. For what it's worth, I'm not sure that's exactly what CosmicIron meant when he asked his question.

Originally Posted by Sageous: ^^ Or people in good shape have nothing better to do with their time... or they're driven to beautify/purify their physique for purely narcissistic reasons ... or they just want dates... or... hell, I think you get my point: excellent physical condition does not equal improved mental condition every time, and people in excellent physical condition do not always have that "underlying sense of well-being and self-esteem;" indeed, very often their efforts stem from very opposite underlying senses. There are simply too many variables to make such assumptions, I think. -------- Well, there are a lot of "beef-heads" in good shape, and I doubt they would be much good at LDing seeing as it is a mental thing. My idea behind it is that if you should control your whole body. From your physical prowess to your mental well-being. I know that to succeed in this world it is easier if you are smart and well... not in bad shape. Easier to get a job and easier to keep it. If all else fails at an office, you can always go to a job (like mine) that doesn't take any mind work, but takes the physical endurance to walk 8-10 miles a day in all weather. I do what I need, and I do it confidently. There are many paths to a lucid dream. My path is through my confidence, my belief in my abilities, if someone else in the world can "always be lucid" than so can I. My confidence is a type of confidence most easily gotten from succeeding in many sports (mostly basketball for 9 years). If I fall it is because I didn't practice enough, didn't study enough, didn't think through it enough. So I can just try again, this time knowing that I could have done it last time thus I can do it the next time. A weird way of thinking, but it applies to all parts of my life now. Another random point: active body = active mind I think that being in a position like mine makes it easier, but is still a long and arduous road and many fall by the waysides even if they have it easier.

Hi, i have 2 questions regarding SSILD, which i will be focusing more in the future, as i need to spend less time with induction techniques. ( i have been having great sucess with an extended time WILD technique, sometimes 3 hours, and i higly suspect i am just doing a long version of SSILD ) this is from your most recent tutorial available on your blog. is it just a recommendation for better chances or is it a necessary step ? also, what do you mean by few extra medium-paced cycles ? Real Awakening: You wake up again after doing SSILD. You do a reality check and this time it is real. Do not despair. You still have chances. Try to stay still, and immediately relax your head, allowing the back of it to sink into the pillow. Then you need to perform a few extra medium-paced SSILD cycles. At this stage it is quite possible for you to encounter hypnagogia sensations. If not, just finish the cycles and go to sleep. You will have a much higher chance to succeed this time my second question is : i have an app on my phone which helps me with SSILD. after each quick and long cycle it makes a quick sound so i can do it each cycle with more efficiency. do you see any inconvenience ? i feel like psychological time and real time are really different in the middle of the night, is it better to choose psychological time and just go into the trance?

Originally Posted by VagalTone: Hi, i have 2 questions regarding SSILD, which i will be focusing more in the future, as i need to spend less time with induction techniques. ( i have been having great sucess with an extended time WILD technique, sometimes 3 hours, and i higly suspect i am just doing a long version of SSILD ) this is from your most recent tutorial available on your blog. is it just a recommendation for better chances or is it a necessary step ? also, what do you mean by few extra medium-paced cycles ? Real Awakening: You wake up again after doing SSILD. You do a reality check and this time it is real. Do not despair. You still have chances. Try to stay still, and immediately relax your head, allowing the back of it to sink into the pillow. Then you need to perform a few extra medium-paced SSILD cycles. At this stage it is quite possible for you to encounter hypnagogia sensations. If not, just finish the cycles and go to sleep. You will have a much higher chance to succeed this time my second question is : i have an app on my phone which helps me with SSILD. after each quick and long cycle it makes a quick sound so i can do it each cycle with more efficiency. do you see any inconvenience ? i feel like psychological time and real time are really different in the middle of the night, is it better to choose psychological time and just go into the trance? -------- That sound will get you out of the trance.